Berks residents flock to field for sunflower display
People from across the region are flocking to a field off of Main Street to see and photograph the field of sunflowers growing next to the Please Wash Me Carwash.
On Friday, a steady stream of visitors stopped to see the field, which was planted by car wash owner Rick Frey.
Frey told Fox-29 that he got the idea in hopes of drawing in a few more customers to his self service car wash, which is a little off the beaten path. That was seven years ago, now Rick believes more than 60,000 people have come to visit the field in just 11 days.
Signs ask visitors to just take photos, but please don’t cut the flowers. Most visitors gladly complied. On Friday, families walked among the rows of plants, which grow as much as 6 feet high. Bees flying among the plants ignored visitors as they feasted on the bright yellow flowers.
“It’s our Christmas photo,” said Heather Hohl, of Exeter Township, as she stretched to get everyone in her family in the group photo. That included Jacob, 9, Ethan, 12, Lucas, 2, and husband Ryan. “It’s gorgeous. As thanks we’re going to get our car washed afterward.”
Eliset Taganlangit of Pottstown was there with his daughter Alyssa and her friend Sarah Davis. He said many people at work had told him about it when they decided to come out for the visit.
“It’s really neat, I wash they didn’t have to cut them down,” said Alyssa.
Nicholas Malfitano came from Philadelphia on his day off to see the flowers. “I’m an hour away,” Malfitant said. “I decided I wanted to take a road trip. It’s a great sight to brighten everyone’s day, and maybe get my car washed.”
“I kept seeing it on Facebook,” said Jennifer Matten of Sinking Springs. “It’s amazing.”
“For whatever reason, it just seems to work,” Frey told the TV station. “For 15 minutes, everyone can get along and do something. There is no politics, there is no religion, there is no race, there is no nothing,” Frey said. “I am just a guy who washes cars and makes a little business. This overcame that. This makes me happier than washing a car. A lot happier.”